Apple has cleared an important legal milestone in a class-action lawsuit over delayed Siri and Apple Intelligence features. A U.S. judge has granted preliminary approval to the company’s proposed $250 million settlement. However, the agreement still requires final court approval before payments can begin.
The lawsuit claimed that some customers purchased new iPhones after Apple promoted advanced Siri features that were not available at launch. Apple acknowledged the delays in 2025 and later proposed a settlement to resolve the case.
Eligible Users Could Receive Payments
The court has scheduled a final approval hearing for September 29, 2027. Until then, no payments will be issued. If the settlement receives final approval, eligible customers could receive at least $25 for each qualifying device. The payment could increase if fewer people submit claims. However, the court will review any payout that exceeds $95 per claimant before funds are distributed.
The court will also decide whether Apple must cover the legal costs of the plaintiffs. Meanwhile, a formal claims process will be created for eligible users. People who wish to opt out of the settlement will also receive instructions through a dedicated settlement website or by mail.
Which Devices Qualify?
Not every Apple customer qualifies for the proposed settlement. According to the court filing, eligible buyers must live in the United States. They must also have purchased one of several supported iPhone models during the specified eligibility period.
The qualifying devices include the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Eligible customers do not need to take any action yet. The notification process is expected to begin after the preliminary approval period.
The Dispute Over Siri Features
The lawsuit focused on Apple’s delayed rollout of Apple Intelligence features announced alongside the iPhone lineup in 2024. Although Apple eventually released most of the advertised capabilities through later software updates, one highly promoted Siri feature remained unavailable at the time. That feature demonstrated Siri using personal information stored on a user’s device to answer contextual questions.
Apple has since introduced much of that functionality in beta versions of its updated Siri AI. Even so, the lawsuit argues that the original delay influenced some customers’ buying decisions. The final court hearing in 2027 will determine whether the settlement becomes official and when eligible users can begin receiving compensation.
